Well I am sitting here in the business lounge at Heathrow, awaiting my flight to Oz ... I got an upgrade to business class, so very happy.
My thoughts on this brief trip ... I had written out a long detailed list but the PC just scrubbed it so I will have to a condensed version !
1. Being back with my tribe
2. Family
3.The countryside
4. The history
5. Fantastic pubs in the towns and the country and of course dogs welcome in most, downside, too many sprogs allowed in pubs.
6. London....best city in the world, always busy. I was amazed at the pubs and restaurants were packed during the week ...what recession? In Sydney they are busy during the weekend but weekdays, nope!
I loved travelling on the Thames clippers; my God, those boats get some stick, and I found out they are made in Australia! I spoke to some of the crew, they love the boats but said the heating system was crap; my answer was they don't need heating in Australia!
7.Driving - the roads are too crowded but the driving is 1st class, which is my biggest gripe about Australia - even more than dogs being banned from everywhere is that the drivers are CRAP. I wish the Australian authorities would send their road safety experts to the UK to see how drivers are trained properly.
7. The canals of course, the list isn't in any particular order so i don't mean 7th best!
I will do a more detailed blog when I get back with some pics, but one thing for sure I hope we can sell the bleedin' house and get back here asap! I totally know it is the right thing to do. Nothing wrong with oz (apart from the drivers) but the change is long overdue!
All aboard and off we go.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Sand Spurge and dog walking on the beach ...
What the ? This article in our local paper made me see red this morning ... apparently we are not to be allowed a bit of a beach to walk our dogs as there is some endangered sand spurge there (?) - you can read the article here ...
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/study-rules-out-opening-beach-to-off-leash-canines/
I don't know why they just don't say they don't like dogs and don't want them anywhere ... would be a lot more honest !
Well, that's on whinge for the day - another is that NO-ONE turned up to our Open House today - waaaahhhh !!
Signed ... Depressed of Sydney xx
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/study-rules-out-opening-beach-to-off-leash-canines/
I don't know why they just don't say they don't like dogs and don't want them anywhere ... would be a lot more honest !
Well, that's on whinge for the day - another is that NO-ONE turned up to our Open House today - waaaahhhh !!
Signed ... Depressed of Sydney xx
Friday, November 18, 2011
Health Care in UK ...
... for us types wanting to move back !
My brother sent me a link to the following article ... shows that the 'emergency only' treatment is to prevent health tourism (I often wondered how the UK was coping with all that !). It's an interesting read ...
Also this info - again, from my Brother ... is also of interest re. health care entitlements ...
We must remember to keep all our selling and buying documentation when we do get to move !
Paul, the House and Shampoo ...
Well, Paul is still away but heading back to the UK from Amsterdam today (ish!) -- off to Poole with his Boss to see some people. He sounds like he has been having a nice time - and catching up on plenty of sleep, which is good !
Our stand-in Real Estate guy bought a couple of people through yesterday to have a look but rang today to say that one couple really liked it but are worried that when they have children and want the parents to look after them, our slope and steps up to the house will be too much for them - bla, bla, bla !! Note to selves ... always buy a flat block in future ! Ah well, another open day tomorrow ... please, please, please send us a buyer !
This morning, I thought I would try to make some doggie shampoo (I've been making soap for a while but never tried the shampoo!). My recipe was a mix of Poly Decyl Glucose (from Cornstarch), Xanthan Gum, Geogard Ultra, plus Cider Vinegar, some ground oats and some essential oils.
 |
| Sooo many bubbles left after washing up all the shampoo-making pots ! |
At first, I thought it was a complete disaster because it went all gluggy and wouldn't pour, but now it's not so bad - it settled down a bit in the fridge, so I washed the dogs with it. They loved it ! Usually, when I wash them, they go mental, running up and down but after I washed them with this (to leave it on for a few mins) they laid down and waited for the rinse ... remarkable ! A success after all - just looks a bit odd !!
 |
| Clean and Happy Dogs !! |
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Sorry NHS !
My brother has put me right on my comments on emergency treatment with the NHS - so I retract my previous statements ... sorry NHS !! (It actually sounds like it would have been better than here ... I didn't get operated on for 24 hours and never, ever met the Surgeon who apparently did the op. - and who I paid for privately !). I will meet him next week, however, for a follow up - but I will pay for that too ! Elaine xx
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Appendicectomies and Canals !
Well - there was a turn up for the books - didn't expect to be getting my appendix chopped out when I started off last week ! I must apologise about my husband's graphic details of my bodily functions ... too much info! However - a reality of life!
I was thinking about it all and I figured that my having my appendix out now is the 'Universe / God's' way of making it 'plain sailing' for when we do get on the Cut ! I can't imagine having to find a hospital and dealing with all that emergency stuff in the UK (I hear the NHS can be very trying these days !) but then not being able to lift anything more than 5 kg for 4 - 6 weeks - that would mean I would be totally off lock duties and have to drive the boat for 6 weeks (what a terrifying thought !!) - or be moored somewhere for 6 weeks! So - thank you God, for getting that out of the way for me !! :)
Paul is in Amsterdam as I write this ... he rang before and said he had just slept for 13 hours ! He nearly had a heart attack driving from Milton Keynes to Luton (!) - said the traffic was just stopped - said he could have walked quicker ! However, he made his connecting flight to Amsterdam with minutes to spare! He probably overdid the adrenaline there - no wonder he slept so long ! He will be attending the Boat Show with his boss for a few days now, before returning to the UK and doing some other visits over there - also with his boss !
I'm having a week or so off massaging, till things have settled down - so I am having a bit of a holiday myself ... which the dogs are loving !
The House ...
As regards the house - still no takers ! We had another open last Saturday - two couples through but no interest ! Boo hoo ! Please, God - now that my appendix is out of the way, can we sell our house and get on the Cut ?!!
Our friends are going to come around this Saturday and help me to clean up - mostly needing help with mopping and cleaning the pool and the garden - so it shouldn't take too long. I feel another 'thank God' coming on ...
I was thinking about it all and I figured that my having my appendix out now is the 'Universe / God's' way of making it 'plain sailing' for when we do get on the Cut ! I can't imagine having to find a hospital and dealing with all that emergency stuff in the UK (I hear the NHS can be very trying these days !) but then not being able to lift anything more than 5 kg for 4 - 6 weeks - that would mean I would be totally off lock duties and have to drive the boat for 6 weeks (what a terrifying thought !!) - or be moored somewhere for 6 weeks! So - thank you God, for getting that out of the way for me !! :)
Paul is in Amsterdam as I write this ... he rang before and said he had just slept for 13 hours ! He nearly had a heart attack driving from Milton Keynes to Luton (!) - said the traffic was just stopped - said he could have walked quicker ! However, he made his connecting flight to Amsterdam with minutes to spare! He probably overdid the adrenaline there - no wonder he slept so long ! He will be attending the Boat Show with his boss for a few days now, before returning to the UK and doing some other visits over there - also with his boss !
I'm having a week or so off massaging, till things have settled down - so I am having a bit of a holiday myself ... which the dogs are loving !
The House ...
As regards the house - still no takers ! We had another open last Saturday - two couples through but no interest ! Boo hoo ! Please, God - now that my appendix is out of the way, can we sell our house and get on the Cut ?!!
Our friends are going to come around this Saturday and help me to clean up - mostly needing help with mopping and cleaning the pool and the garden - so it shouldn't take too long. I feel another 'thank God' coming on ...
Thank God for all my beautiful friends and family who help / offer their help / send their love at these tricky times. We are completely Blessed !
That's my lot for now ! Toodloo - Elaine x
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Sydney Airport
Blogging from the Qantas business lounge at Sydney Airport waiting for the flight to the UK via Singapore, I have to change planes in Singapore within a 1hour and 15 minute time frame so I hope the bloody thing isn't late, they are both Qantas flights so they generally wait if the first flight is a bit late.
I made the final decision to go on the trip this morning as Elaine had a good night's sleep and this morning her bodily functions returned to normal, if you know what I mean ... 5 days is a long time between No 2s!!!
We had to get the house ready for yet another open house, we had a bit of a role reversal with Elaine doing the dusting and very light work whilst I cleaned the floors, deck, hoovering and cleared the fu%&ing Jacaranda petals out of the pool.
Elaine just texted to say there were a few couples going through the house.....please buy it, the next time I want to be at this airport is with Elaine, 2 dogs and 3 cats and off to a new adventure!
All aboard we are off......
I made the final decision to go on the trip this morning as Elaine had a good night's sleep and this morning her bodily functions returned to normal, if you know what I mean ... 5 days is a long time between No 2s!!!
We had to get the house ready for yet another open house, we had a bit of a role reversal with Elaine doing the dusting and very light work whilst I cleaned the floors, deck, hoovering and cleared the fu%&ing Jacaranda petals out of the pool.
Elaine just texted to say there were a few couples going through the house.....please buy it, the next time I want to be at this airport is with Elaine, 2 dogs and 3 cats and off to a new adventure!
All aboard we are off......
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Elaine Update
After having the CT scan it was confirmed as appendicitis and the offending appendix was removed Wednesday.
In the words of the eminent surgeon "It was very infected and manky" Because of this they kept her in another day to pump her full of anti-biotics so she should be released today I hope. She seemed in very good spirits last night which was good.
She is still in the EMU section (Emergency Medical Unit) which is where the patients are assessed after being taken out of the Ambulance, it is amazing how many nutters are unloaded I feel for the doctors and nurses that have to handle them.
I have taken today off work so I can give the house a good clean up before I pick her up, this of course is in anticipation of a successful open house tomorrow! Although the news coming out of Europe is a tad gloomy.
Still got my flight booked for tomorrow and am pretty optimistic that I will go, we will see how er indoors copes today when she gets home. So I will now have a whole day in England before going to Amsterdam, never mind as long as I can get down to the 3 Locks for a pint and a canal fix
I am now going to take the dogs for a good walk around Long Reef. Poor Bombo he is really missing Elaine and is constantly looking for her, Sam couldn't give a toss!
In the words of the eminent surgeon "It was very infected and manky" Because of this they kept her in another day to pump her full of anti-biotics so she should be released today I hope. She seemed in very good spirits last night which was good.
She is still in the EMU section (Emergency Medical Unit) which is where the patients are assessed after being taken out of the Ambulance, it is amazing how many nutters are unloaded I feel for the doctors and nurses that have to handle them.
I have taken today off work so I can give the house a good clean up before I pick her up, this of course is in anticipation of a successful open house tomorrow! Although the news coming out of Europe is a tad gloomy.
Still got my flight booked for tomorrow and am pretty optimistic that I will go, we will see how er indoors copes today when she gets home. So I will now have a whole day in England before going to Amsterdam, never mind as long as I can get down to the 3 Locks for a pint and a canal fix
I am now going to take the dogs for a good walk around Long Reef. Poor Bombo he is really missing Elaine and is constantly looking for her, Sam couldn't give a toss!
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